This week, Clare Smyth launches her second London restaurant, The Dover gets a sibling, Vagabond open a winery and more...
Corenucopia
Chelsea - 18-22 Holbein Place, London SW1W 8NL
This is Clare Smyth's first new London restaurant since getting a third Michelin star for Core. This time, it's a "luxury bistro" with a menu that features British classics given a high-end makeover. So her version of fish & chips will include Dover sole fillets with lobster mousse. We're fully expecting critic Giles Coren to visit so he can make good mileage out of the name.
Opening date: 3 December 2025
Dover Street Counter
Mayfair - 31 Dover Street, London W1S 4ND
This is restaurateur Martin Kuczmarski's second opening in a matter of weeks, although this one is only a few doors down from his hugely successful first opening, The Dover. Something of a spin-off of that restaurant, this is more like a diner crossed with the design aesthetic of The Dover. So think of lots of American-style dishes, classic cocktails and a beautiful look. It's also a little more affordable than The Dover, and (at the moment) easier to get a booking at.
Opening date: 1 December 2025
Mazarine
Mayfair - 22 Hanover Square, London W1S 1JA
Although this is opening right beside The Mandarin Oriental Mayfair (and appears to be in the same building), this is actually a standalone restaurant from the people behind Sparrow Italia. They've brought in an ex-Le Gavroche and LPM head chef to lead a menu that's taking a southern/coastal approach to French cooking.
Opening date: 2 December 2025
Vagabond Canada Water
Canada Water - The Dock Shed, 9 Deal Porters Way, London SE16 2AJ
Vagabond bars (where you pour the wine yourself from machines) are usually popular wherever they open, but this one is very different from the others. It comes with its own working winery, and you'll be able to taste the wine they're making at every stage of the process (as well as trying another 100 wines by the glass). It's quite unlike any other wine bar in town, so should be well worth checking out.
Opening date: 4 December 2025
Hoax
Dalston - 390 Kingsland Road, London E8 4AA
Hoax takes over the space that was once the original Chick N Sours. Upstairs, the restaurant element will be a modern Italian affair, with dishes like chicken with black truffle and pan brioche, as well as a house cacio e pepe. Downstairs, you'll find their bar The Devil You Know (AKA TDYK), and as one of the owners also looked after the drinks programme at Calooh Callay, this should be a very promising bar with cocktails including a White Chocolate & Strawberry Negroni and a Truffle Martini.
Opening date: 5 December 2025
Pizza Pilgrims
King's Cross - 278-280 Pentonville Road, London N1 9NR
This is the latest pizzeria in the ever-growing Pizza Pilgrims empire, and if you're familiar with them, you'll know they're all about Neapolitan pizza, with their dough made fresh daily on-site. This particular opening will be very handy for commuters as it's less than a couple of minutes' walk from King's Cross station.
Opening date: 1 December 2025
Stable Wines
Islington - 344a Essex Rd, London N1 3PD
This is a combo shop and wine bar from the same people behind Goodbye Horses and The Dreamery. There's a shop upstairs which leads into an underground wine bar where you'll find small plates and natural wines. The design is by the same team as their other openings so it should all look very impressive.
Opening date: 1 December 2025
This week's events
2 December - King's Cross wine bar Porte Noire is having a bottomless raclette evening. For £35 you get unlimited Raclette, unlimited baby new potatoes, lettuce, gherkins and bread as well as a large platter of charcuterie.
3 December (across London) - Honest Burgers will be giving away 100 Double Smashed Cheeseburgers, served with its signature rosemary salted chips, at every UK restaurant from opening on Wednesday 3rd December. Tickets numbered 1 to 100 will be given to the first customers in line from the moment each restaurant opens its doors.
7 December - Botivo will be bringing their yellow piano and pitching up outside wine bar and shop Lulu’s in Herne Hill for a Christmas singalong and there will be Hot Bottys, mulled cider and little sausage rolls flying around all afternoon.
Here's what opened last week:
Ronnies NYC (Mayfair) - The new Kith store in London comes with their first-ever restaurant.
Vincenzo's (Shoreditch) - Popular Bushey pizzeria lands in Shoreditch with a slice shop
Barang (London Bridge) - Cambodian pop-up gets a long-term residency
Copains (Covent Garden) - Gluten-free Parisian bakery comes to town
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